The Girl Who Chose the Maid Over Her Father

CHAPTER 3 — The Maid Vanessa Needed to Silence

Anna had not known about the recording.

Sophie often carried the rabbit into Vanessa's rooms because she had been told they needed to "practice becoming a family."

During one visit, the toy captured Vanessa speaking with her brother, Nathan Laurent.

The Laurent Children's Foundation had diverted more than eight million dollars from pediatric programs into private investment accounts.

Anna discovered the missing supplies while working at the clinic.

Vanessa arranged for her dismissal before she could contact regulators.

The engagement to Julian offered a solution.

After their marriage, Vanessa would join the board of the Ashford Foundation. She planned to transfer money into the Laurent clinic, disguising the missing funds as new charitable support.

Julian's attorneys reviewed the pending merger documents.

His signature appeared on three authorizations he had never approved.

One transfer was scheduled for midnight.

Julian froze the foundation's accounts.

Vanessa stopped pretending.

"Do you have any idea what this scandal will do to my family?"

"What did it do to the sick children who lost their medicine?" Anna asked.

Vanessa turned on her.

"You were a nobody before I entered this house. You'll be a nobody when you leave."

Anna remained calm.

"Then why are you so frightened of me?"

Nathan Laurent arrived with attorneys and accused Anna of blackmail. He claimed the rabbit recordings had been edited.

A forensic specialist confirmed they were authentic.

Nathan then released a statement describing Julian as an unstable widower being manipulated by an ambitious servant.

News reporters surrounded the estate.

Julian's board urged him to dismiss Anna and settle privately before the allegations damaged the foundation.

For years, Julian had protected his reputation by avoiding public conflict.

This time, Sophie was watching.

He invited financial investigators into the mansion.

They recovered deleted messages between Vanessa and Nathan. One ordered the estate manager to place the necklace in Anna's drawer.

The manager agreed to cooperate.

But before police arrived, Vanessa entered Sophie's room and took the rabbit.

Security stopped her near the garage.

Vanessa threw the toy onto the stone floor.

Its plastic casing shattered.

Sophie screamed.

Anna picked up the broken rabbit.

Inside its damaged body was a hidden memory card.

The final recording contained Vanessa saying, "If Julian discovers the truth, we'll make his daughter look mentally ill."